Post by castledan on Jan 12, 2016 12:12:45 GMT -6

I thought we could discuss our hopes for the music. It's one of the few things not talked about on this forum but such a VITAL ingredient.

I thought maybe we can discuss the vibes we hope get touched on and maybe share four of our favorite pieces used in IGAVANIA's...Why you like the songWhy you think capturing that feeling is importantand why it should be a style captured in the new game

My four votes :

Wood Carving Partita - I love it because it really transports me into the time period of the game, I think something that is as catchy as this while being melodic and a period piece feels like a great thing to achieve.

Waltz of the Pearls/Dance of Pearls - it's got such a great little intro, very melodic, and it's got a certain ambiance that fits the location of the game so well. Again it feels like it fits the time period perfectly.

Leon's theme- it manages to be melodic, and yet has so much energy and great rhythm despite that. Very beautiful song. That's a key to great music, something that can be beautiful but still drive the game alone all the same.

Requiem for the gods - It's one piece that I think fits the location so well that it feels like it's such a part of it. It really made me feel like i was in a gigantic chapel, the haunting choir that has a reverb which makes the location feel huge.

My two favorite soundtracks come from SOTN and LOI, Aria is a close third.

what are your picks? and what do you hope the new soundtrack achieves?

The two tracks we've already heard I enjoy a good deal, Yamane's track sounds almost like the intro to SOTN which is cool, just a bit more gentle take of it, and the other track is just as driving as some of the guitar driven tracks of SOTN.

Post by crocodile on Jan 12, 2016 12:40:05 GMT -6

Music is perhaps the new content I'm most looking forward to in future updates. I'll write-up a long form post when I have time later but good topic idea. That being said, doesn't this belong in the Music forum? Or is it fine here?

Post by castledan on Jan 12, 2016 12:59:16 GMT -6

Music is perhaps the new content I'm most looking forward to in future updates. I'll write-up a long form post when I have time later but good topic idea. That being said, doesn't this belong in the Music forum? Or is it fine here?

Oh crap, I didn't realize there was a discussion.

Idk I guess that's somehow else to decide. I don't care if it's moved or anything but yeah, I think it's a good topic to discuss. Michiru Yamane has so many different styles it'd be interesting to see what people hope for this outing.

Post by purifyweirdsoul on Jan 12, 2016 13:03:13 GMT -6

I think the presence of the Music forum is what kept this from being outright discussed for so long, just by its presence. I think personally in subconscious thought, I would scroll past that word as part of the forum and assume we were good on that topic...similarly to how I apparently was thinking that the Bloodstained Community forum was more of Mike's thing lol. It just so happens he's started the most there, but we should look at doing that more too.

Anyway, same for me as with crocodile, I could link and talk about my favorites for quite a long time. For now, I'll reiterate what I've said in the Kickstarter comments, I'm thinking/hoping I suppose that Yamane will cover more tracks in the way of varying music styles for levels, main/ending theemes and so forth, with Yamada doing more faster/rock-oriented boss songs or tense moments. Basically, an alternating dance of chill and hype, but I also would love Yamane boss songs and Yamada levels. As we all well know, Yamane can write for electric guitar JUST FINE

An OST of varying musical styles, indeed like SotN, would be great and appropriate, I think. There's quite a bit going on in that soundtrack. Lots of instruments, great atmosphere.

Post by XombieMike on Jan 12, 2016 13:10:57 GMT -6

I can't overstate the importance of music to me in Bloodstained. Such is the reason I have a special place specifically for talking about that aspect of the game. I hope more people make threads that include music they would like to hear, fan made music, and era appropriate music that might match the game. I will move this thread, but I hope that having multiple areas on the forums for organization doesn't hinder discussions. If that proves true I am open to revising the structure.

Post by castledan on Jan 12, 2016 13:23:45 GMT -6

I can't overstate the importance of music to me in Bloodstained. Such is the reason I have a special place specifically for talking about that aspect of the game. I hope more people make threads that include music they would like to hear, fan made music, and era appropriate music that might match the game. I will move this thread, but I hope that having multiple areas on the forums for organization doesn't hinder discussions. If that proves true I am open to revising the structure.

Yeah sorry, it honestly slipped my mind there's a section for that in this forum.

Post by castledan on Jan 12, 2016 13:47:51 GMT -6

Lol, I think it was just a hassle on my phone because it's slow so I just went into the guest spot and posted my quick reply. Since people brought it up i figured...oh well, i'll go the longer approach.

Post by crocodile on Jan 12, 2016 20:21:40 GMT -6

The Castlevania has so many amazing songs and so many strong soundtracks its hard to know where to start. A lot of the reason I like so many of the songs is because of the emotions they induce within me. Though the contemplative, somber and morose themes have often been on point, its usually the battle themes or adventurous themes that stay with me long after I've beaten a game. I'm going to try to avoid talking about songs like Vampire Killer or Bloody Tears that have had like 32345234532 renditions over the years and have probably been the focus of most of the Castlevania music discussion over the years to focus more on songs that were unique or defined a particular Castlevania game.

Tragic Prince (played in the Clock Tower section of SOTN) is a favorite of mine because it is a high tempo song that really excites me and makes me want to go out there and kick some butt. I really hope Bloodstained has a good number of these high-octane tracks, songs that make you want to grove and rock out. Festival of Servants gives me similar feelings but Tragic Prince stands heads and shoulders above them. The song Yamada composed for the kickstarter campaign is a great start so I'm looking forward to more. As an aside, I thought it was interesting that the song for he Colosseum, Wandering Ghosts, had such a relaxing (relatively speaking) tone considering where in the game it was used. Perhaps that made it all the memorable though. Great song.

Speaking of battle themes, Enchanted Banquet (vs the Succubus and Medusa) is the best of the ones from SOTN because of the sense of macabre and dread it emits. It makes you feel like you are in a battle you should really feel afraid about. I consider this Boss Battle Theme 2 (ala Crono Trigger) - i.e. you know stuff is about to go down - to Festival of Servants being Boss Battle 1.

I'll go against the grain and say I LOVE I Am the Wind. Yes, I know it SUPER CHEEZY! I don't care. It's a sweet, feel good song. I hope something similar closes out Bloodstained as well. I'm really hoping its an English song too. Or they can do what Skullgilrs did and have an English AND Japanese (can't find a Youtube upload of it though) version of its ending theme song.

Switching to a different game, Order of Ecclesia, I'm a big fan of A Clashing of Waves, Rhapsody of the Forsaken and Ebony Wings. All have a very adventurous, outgoing feel to it. Not the combative one that for example Tragic Prince (I think An Empty Tome is the OoE counterpart of that song - another excellent piece) had but they make me feel like I'm in the unexplored and there is a whole new world out there waiting to be discovered <3. Sorrow's Distortion (you can feel the sorrow in the theme for how sad the battle is) and Lament of the Master are superlative battle themes - the best in the game. I can imagine the confrontation between Miriam and Gebel taking on a tone similar to the ones either of those two songs highlighted (though I expect something akin to Sorrow's Distortion more likely).

Honestly, there are more songs I could shout out but TLDR: SOTN and OoE have AMAZING soundtracks and now I'm more hype for the music of Bloodstained than I was earlier in the day <3

Post by castledan on Jan 12, 2016 23:18:27 GMT -6

The Castlevania has so many amazing songs and so many strong soundtracks its hard to know where to start. A lot of the reason I like so many of the songs is because of the emotions they induce within me. Though the contemplative, somber and morose themes have often been on point, its usually the battle themes or adventurous themes that stay with me long after I've beaten a game. I'm going to try to avoid talking about songs like Vampire Killer or Bloody Tears that have had like 32345234532 renditions over the years and have probably been the focus of most of the Castlevania music discussion over the years to focus more on songs that were unique or defined a particular Castlevania game.

Tragic Prince (played in the Clock Tower section of SOTN) is a favorite of mine because it is a high tempo song that really excites me and makes me want to go out there and kick some butt. I really hope Bloodstained has a good number of these high-octane tracks, songs that make you want to grove and rock out. Festival of Servants gives me similar feelings but Tragic Prince stands heads and shoulders above them. The song Yamada composed for the kickstarter campaign is a great start so I'm looking forward to more. As an aside, I thought it was interesting that the song for he Colosseum, Wandering Ghosts, had such a relaxing (relatively speaking) tone considering where in the game it was used. Perhaps that made it all the memorable though. Great song.

Speaking of battle themes, Enchanted Banquet (vs the Succubus and Medusa) is the best of the ones from SOTN because of the sense of macabre and dread it emits. It makes you feel like you are in a battle you should really feel afraid about. I consider this Boss Battle Theme 2 (ala Crono Trigger) - i.e. you know stuff is about to go down - to Festival of Servants being Boss Battle 1.

I'll go against the grain and say I LOVE I Am the Wind. Yes, I know it SUPER CHEEZY! I don't care. It's a sweet, feel good song. I hope something similar closes out Bloodstained as well. I'm really hoping its an English song too. Or they can do what Skullgilrs did and have an English AND Japanese (can't find a Youtube upload of it though) version of its ending theme song.

Switching to a different game, Order of Ecclesia, I'm a big fan of A Clashing of Waves, Rhapsody of the Forsaken and Ebony Wings. All have a very adventurous, outgoing feel to it. Not the combative one that for example Tragic Prince (I think An Empty Tome is the OoE counterpart of that song - another excellent piece) had but they make me feel like I'm in the unexplored and there is a whole new world out there waiting to be discovered <3. Sorrow's Distortion (you can feel the sorrow in the theme for how sad the battle is) and Lament of the Master are superlative battle themes - the best in the game. I can imagine the confrontation between Miriam and Gebel taking on a tone similar to the ones either of those two songs highlighted (though I expect something akin to Sorrow's Distortion more likely).

Honestly, there are more songs I could shout out but TLDR: SOTN and OoE have AMAZING soundtracks and now I'm more hype for the music of Bloodstained than I was earlier in the day <3

yup they both have great soundtracks!

Not a fan of laments? I love laments soundtrack a lot though it's got less of that upbeat nature to it you were talking about

Post by crocodile on Jan 13, 2016 3:29:04 GMT -6

I've never played Lament of Innocence so I don't have an opinion on it. I could listen to the OST on Youtube but I feel you lose something if you've never experienced an OST in the context of its game.

Post by purifyweirdsoul on Jan 13, 2016 8:08:23 GMT -6

LoI's soundtrack is indeed great. I would say it's the best CD quality (non-chiptune/portable or 16-bit era) original music of the series aside from SotN.

Let's talk about the first full song you hear in Symphony of the Night - Prologue. ULLLLLLLLL. *spasms out*

I think I was just dumbfounded by how awesome that game was when I was a young teenager and first played it. I wish I could remember/see my exact reaction, because that opening level is too amazing. Prologue has had a longer lifespan on my mp3 player than any Castlevania song, I think, and second to that would actually be Wandering Ghosts. Indeed, it did hit me as "haha what is this doing here?" the first time I heard it, but that song has stuck with me as a great piece. The jack-throwing skeletons grooving to the beat immediately comes to mind. The way they animate fits so well with the song, not to mention it's just a great interlude and refreshing to hear something quite different.

I think that's a very important piece of their puzzle here: how the music ties into the feeling of the level. Not just the atmosphere itself, but the emotion in playing it. Did you just start the game? Did you just beat something difficult? Are you just kind of relaxing, traversing the environment? I think that in the past, they have been on point in looking at these things. It was in a way a "dynamic" soundtrack by design, but in beautiful subtlety.

Post by castledan on Jan 13, 2016 10:49:30 GMT -6

I've never played Lament of Innocence so I don't have an opinion on it. I could listen to the OST on Youtube but I feel you lose something if you've never experienced an OST in the context of its game.

You gotta listen to the soundtrack it's so good.

I'll show you a few so it doesn't ruin anything for ya-

@purifiedweirdsoul

That's why SOTN's soundtrack was so ace to me, it not only had great melodies and were very catchy but it was so fitting of the locations and almost added to the atmosphere. Think about Abandoned Mine, and that track sells you on the location you are. Also is it true she also handled the sound effects in that game? I think they were the best sound effects in the 2d games and it was one area the DS games lacked for me were the sound effects. I wish she would do that again.

Post by Redogan on Jan 13, 2016 13:07:39 GMT -6

I'll say that I think SotN has the best music of any game ever. Lament is a close second. I like just about every piece of music from both of those games. I'll also say that I really like Bloody Tears, Vampire Killer, Dance of Illusions, and....wait for it....I am the Wind. I think I really like I Am the Wind because the singer sounds almost exactly like my wife.

Post by qaantar on Jan 13, 2016 16:50:59 GMT -6

I'll go a bit contrarian... my favorite Castlevania soundtrack to listen to is Lords of Shadow. The mood of the music matches the game environments extremely well, and the orchestration is top notch. If I had to say anything negative about it, it would be that many of the pieces are almost too epic (i.e., music that you'd expect for the final boss fight), but then again, you're almost constantly fighting an epic creature in every level of the game...

Do I want Bloodstained to follow that path, though? No. And besides, the two examples we've gotten so far seem to provide a solid indication that we're going to get old-school Castlevania style music.

Post by castledan on Jan 14, 2016 13:40:36 GMT -6

I'll go a bit contrarian... my favorite Castlevania soundtrack to listen to is Lords of Shadow. The mood of the music matches the game environments extremely well, and the orchestration is top notch. If I had to say anything negative about it, it would be that many of the pieces are almost too epic (i.e., music that you'd expect for the final boss fight), but then again, you're almost constantly fighting an epic creature in every level of the game...

Do I want Bloodstained to follow that path, though? No. And besides, the two examples we've gotten so far seem to provide a solid indication that we're going to get old-school Castlevania style music.

I can appreciate orchestration type soundtracks, and the hollywood style of it but for this type of game I will always prefer the more intimate and catchy. There's still elaborate composition pieces that can easily be done with orchestration but it doesn't come off as hollywood blockbuster as Lords of Shadow. I can respect that viewpoint though.

Post by Astaroth on Jan 16, 2016 3:19:59 GMT -6

i have so many cv osts, remixes and albums its not funny, so therell be a bunch of editing to this one as i piece things together

cvlos has an epic ost, my main problem with it is so few songs are memorable, most of them are walls of sound that do fit well when youre playing the game, but too many songs hit you upside the head with a skyscraper or sound way too similar so you cant easily pick one out, waterfalls of agharta though is an excellent piece, it has a simplicity to it where you can readily tell it apart and it builds upon its own motif, rather than most of the soundtracks heavy reliance on reusing the gods mask/last battle themes everywhere, it does make for a unified movielike soundtrack but it loses a lot of what makes castlevania music so epic, that you can have wildly different compositions right next to each other but they fit the area they are tied to and enhance it so well that you dont notice a jump from a heavy metal piece like tragic prince to a period harpsichord piece like wood carving partita, and the songs are memorable, how many people remember the 18 second song Silence that only plays once in SotN, or can tell the 4 boss themes apart fairly quickly and their relative place in the game, or be able to hum songs from classicvania like bloody tears, silence of daylight, monster dance, wicked child, vampire killer, mad forest, sinking old sanctuary, iron blue intention, calling from heaven, slash, opus 13, beginning, bloodlines, cross fear, overture, dance of the holy man, and out of time

Post by Kaius on Jan 21, 2016 6:45:42 GMT -6

I really love the wandering atmosphere and the feels you are in a special place, far from the Castle. A good exemple is the underground caverns you can explore in the game. It looks like it's a place that was here way before the castle was build and I love the magical ambiance of it.

I would be glad to see those kind of areas in Bloodstained, as well as a smooth music like Lost Painting.

Post by purifyweirdsoul on Jan 21, 2016 17:45:27 GMT -6

I think my Walkman has become sentient from Bloodstained hype. Yesterday, it played 3 versions of An Empty Tome back to back on the way home and today it did 3 versions of Bloodlines back to back as I was coming back. On shuffle. Out of 6+ gigs of mp3s.

But yes, I'm really hoping for sometime soon getting some new music snippets released in updates. That's another major area we've not heard any more on since the Kickstarter launched. It's not something any of us are particularly worried about, but it'd be great to hear a piece or two from Yamane/Yamada.

Post by crocodile on Jan 22, 2016 0:41:30 GMT -6

The only flaw with Lost Painting is that it's overused in the Inverted Castle. I guess it must have been an issue of time constraints but the fact that the Inverted Castle has so much less music variety than the Regular Castle is weird. IF there is an Inverted Castle in Bloodstained I hope that they have the time/resources to give both castles a robust soundtrack.

I'll also cosign with others in that a pair of new tracks would be a sweet future update <3

i have so many cv osts, remixes and albums its not funny, so therell be a bunch of editing to this one as i piece things together

cvlos has an epic ost, my main problem with it is so few songs are memorable, most of them are walls of sound that do fit well when youre playing the game, but too many songs hit you upside the head with a skyscraper or sound way too similar so you cant easily pick one out, waterfalls of agharta though is an excellent piece, it has a simplicity to it where you can readily tell it apart and it builds upon its own motif, rather than most of the soundtracks heavy reliance on reusing the gods mask/last battle themes everywhere, it does make for a unified movielike soundtrack but it loses a lot of what makes castlevania music so epic, that you can have wildly different compositions right next to each other but they fit the area they are tied to and enhance it so well that you dont notice a jump from a heavy metal piece like tragic prince to a period harpsichord piece like wood carving partita, and the songs are memorable, how many people remember the 18 second song Silence that only plays once in SotN, or can tell the 4 boss themes apart fairly quickly and their relative place in the game, or be able to hum songs from classicvania like bloody tears, silence of daylight, monster dance, wicked child, vampire killer, mad forest, sinking old sanctuary, iron blue intention, calling from heaven, slash, opus 13, beginning, bloodlines, cross fear, overture, dance of the holy man, and out of time

epic but memorable

Oh snap isn't that a remix of Black Banquet from SOTN? I'm guess that's the battle theme with "Dracula" in that game?

Post by Kaius on Jan 22, 2016 4:52:53 GMT -6

I think that when we start getting more music reveals, us fans are going to go nuts. I have a feeling that the music in Bloodstained is going to be beyond epic!

With Michiru Yamane on their side, I really think we can't be disappointed.I dunno Ippo Yamada much but Cursed Orphan is really sick ! The track somehow reminds me of Dracula's Castle from SOTN (back in the day, that surely was as heavy).I'm pretty sure it will be our entrance music, after the door closes itself and, suddenly, a monster creep out of the floor ?

Post by purifyweirdsoul on Jan 22, 2016 15:13:44 GMT -6

Ha, I didn't know he worked on RE. That's cool. Some things picked up from that musical style wouldn't be entirely out of place in Castlevania as well. I mostly knew him from III's work on the Zero/ZX stuff and knew he was with Capcom before, but not sure on which games he contributed to.

crocodile: Thanks for the well wishes everyone. Been busy with life (+ no updates) means I haven't been checking around here super often but do know I still love all you guys Aug 16, 2017 18:11:01 GMT -6